Secret Foodies 


BY Will Cook

Is there a city as infuriating yet loveable as Sydney. Just like that boy or girl you know you shouldn’t date Sydney might be bad for you, but one just can’t stop coming back. The traffic, the rent, the light-rail, the pollution, the cost of coffee. There is seems to be a neverending list of reasons to escape to the country or a less hectic city at least.  

In spite of all my complaining Sydney has my heart. I moved here from Adelaide four years ago, and while our relationship is at time tested, I am now accustomed to the Sydney stresses.  

For those who know me, and the majority who don’t, my name is Will. I am a self-confessed food and wine lover. Suss my tragic Instagram name for reference. Herein lies a key reason why I have not fled Sydney. The city is Australia’s hallmark of food culture. So, come join me on my weekly journey to discover the best niche eating and drinking hideouts the city has to offer. This is Will’s Weekend. 


Who do you like to eat out with the most? Have you ever thought of dining solo? While it’s a daunting proposition at first, eating out alone is somewhat euphoric. It allows you to focus on what you are consuming, the atmosphere around you. Who knows, you might even meet a fellow foodie. Secret Foodies takes this concept of blind eating to the next level. 

A dining experience for confident lovers of food and drink, a Secret Foodies event isn’t for the faint-hearted. It is however an ideal way to seek out a new venue with the help of a horde of other food-minded attendees.  

The brain (or belly) child of culture loving blogger and businesswoman Alex Adams, Secret Foodies was born after a raucous dinner party hosted by a then corporate suit-wearing Alex. The twist for this casual dinner, guests were encouraged to bring a plus one who nobody else knew. The thing to bring them all together? Food (and drink) of course. The following day, Alex quit her desk job and establish Secret Foodies. 

Near enough to 10 years later, Secret Foodies is a Sydney event mainstay. In addition to holding private events for birthdays and other parties, every month Alex and her team host public events (tickets starting from $80) each with their own unqiue theme to suit an undisclosed venue.  

After purchasing tickets to a Secret Foodies event, precipitants are kept in the dark as to the location of the food experience until two hours before kickoff. Recieiving the location via SMS.  

While this isn’t my first Secret Foodies rodeo, I am slightly nervous about attending the Tropical Oasis event which promises “sunshine, ocean views, chilled wine, cocktails and tropical vibes”. My fellow Secret Foodie guest and I are only aware that the event will take place between 1pm and 4pm somewhere in Sydney’s CBD.  

A well-organised machine, at 11am we receive a persoanlised text from Alex. We are to be entering an Oasis at an undisclosed high rise in Circular Quay. Our only direction? To wear something tropical. Queue party shirts.  

While one could spoil the fun and figure out the location via some Google wizardry, we maintain the element of surprise as we navigate ourselves to the CBD location. The big reveal: we are to be eating, drinking and boogieing along to the strums of a ukulele at Hacienda.  

With a 180 view of the Harbour Bridge and a mammoth cruise liner, the venue has been transformed by Alex and her team into a Havana style hamlet. Vibrant balloons blend with pops of plush plantlife amplify the theme.  

An abundance of roaming canapés include a honey drizzled pumpkin flower, fried chicken with honey soy and slices of pork belly. 

Of course it wouldn’t be a Secret Foodies event without the booze. For the Tropical Oasis Secret Foodies partnered with Crafters Union Wines. In addition to serving Rose and Savvy B in a lushly decorated can, Crafters Union also supply wine-infused cocktails. Unfortunately there was no pina colada and chardonnay collaboration.  

From 1pm until 4pm the cocktail style event descended into a hive of foodie love and short-talk frenzy. Lubricated strangers began to mingle, swindling their personal masquerade style masks. Secret Foodies is after all an opportunity to meet like minded eaters and drinkers. Although I wasn’t brave enough to attend the Tropical Oasis solo, there were pockets of people who took up the call and valiantly attended the party single.  

Although the Tropical Oasis was a drinks aplenty cocktail affair, other public events focus on food. A monthly occurrence, you can choose you Secret Foodies experience based on your own preference of food, drink or socialising. I recommend giving any a go.  

Secret Foodies’ private experiences packages read like a mouth-watering summary of a foodie dream. Taste of Tokyo, Farmyard Feast, Pizza Making Class. There are over 15 packages for party planners to choose from. The best part for the organiser? The planning process is taken out of your hands! 

Charging per guest, the private packages might be slightly out of the price range for a student budget. However, the public events are ideal for a splurge. Be it a 21st gift or a brief moment of indulgence, the events offer a unforgettable and truly unique experience. Bottomless food and booze. What more could you want?  

Learn more about Secret Foodies HERE.

Image credit: Secret Foodies

Want More Will's Weekend?

Come Get Some